Rock it to them!

The human dynamo of diminutive proportions, clad only in leather and brandishing a bass guitar almost as big as herself … it has to be Suzi Quatro!

In the closing days of the glam-rock era, Suzi shone like a beacon of hope to all those gals who wanted to be on an equal footing with the guys, whilst still remaining firmly feminine. She was an object of desire to all those lovers of leather and followers of ‘chicks with guitars’… and even better, she could REALLY play!

The main thing to remember about Ms Quatro is her rawness and energy, her drive and commitment to every single note she played. But in interviews with her, the thing that most stands out is her laugh; it’s a wonderful, deep, generous sound which is so infectious, it makes you feel glad to be alive.

So, getting back to basics, the most important place to start is a scrubbed face to achieve that fresh complexion. Begin by exfoliating gently, and if necessary treating yourself to a facepack a couple of hours before you get ready. Moisturise according to your skin-type, and then take a look at your eyebrows. The key to Suzi’s look is a very natural, unplucked appearance; in fact, you may have to use an eyebrow pencil to add some extra depth to your brows. Only tidy the very straggly hairs with a good pair of tweezers, otherwise leave them well alone except for a quick brush in an upward direction.

Foundation should be kept to a minimum; try one of the sheer coverage blends, or a tinted moisturiser for a fresh dewy look, and then dot a concealer where required to cover any blemishes and shadows. Although Suzi was in her 20s when she had her first big hit, she looked as if she was no more than 17 or 18, so remember to keep the look as fresh as possible. A dusting of translucent powder will fix your base for the evening.

Next comes the easy bit: the impression I always have of Suzi’s look (in the nicest way of course!), is that she’s been allowed to raid her mum’s/big sister’s make-up bag, because she’s just too busy practising that guitar to care over-much about curling her eyelashes! So that’s the sense you want to try and recreate. Eyes are either left with just a hint of liner at the outer edges, and a coat of mascara, or else if that feels too naked, Suzi often used a grey powder shadow all over the lids and up to the brow-bone.

Lips can be a little more adventurous; try a reddish shade which will suit your skin – deep reds are good for darker skin, the more purplish reds are better for paler skins – but choose a matt version rather than a gloss. Finish off the look with a hint of blusher, high on the fat part of your cheek, to make it look like you are slightly breathless after all that singing and bass playing.

Hair is shoulder-length, parted in the middle, and rough dried into a shaggy shape with layers. The fringe is kept long, and either parted in the centre too, or left to dry naturally. Throw away the straighteners – you don’t need them, life is too short! And if you don’t want to have a 70s style feather-cut, consider investing in a wig to complete your look. Details are given elsewhere on this site.

Finally, get the right gear. It’s easy, in two words: Black Leather. Be as much of a leather chick as you dare. Rumour has it that Suzi wore nothing at all under the jumpsuit, but whether you do or not is entirely up to you! Make sure that you have a pair of black killer-heeled boots on, and you can start practising that famous strut. A black leather neck-strap would look really authentic too, and pull down the zip on your suit as far as you dare to show off several gold neck chains.

Most importantly, to look like Suzi, you have to act like her too, and make sure that you include that zest for life and freedom of spirit. Remember, you may play with the boys, but you are definitely 100% All Woman, and going to have some serious fun tonight!

© Anne Bradshaw 2009